Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Evaluation of Integrated Anaerobic Digestion and Hydrothermal Carbonization for Bioenergy Production
Published on: June 15, 2014
Ascorbic acid-mediated zero-valent iron enhanced hydrogen production potential of bean dregs and corn stover by photo
Shengnan Zhu1, Yang Zhang2, Zhiping Zhang2
1Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy (MOA of China), Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Huanghe S & T University, Zhengzhou 450006, China.
Abstract:
Ascorbic acid was introduced to enhance the performance of zero-valent iron (Fe(0)) in hydrogen production by photo fermentation of bean dregs and corn stover. The highest hydrogen production of 664.0 ± 5.3 mL and hydrogen production rate of 34.6 ± 0.1 mL/h was achieved at 150 mg/L ascorbic acid, which was 10.1% and 11.5% higher than that of 400 mg/L Fe(0) alone. The supplement of ascorbic acid to Fe(0) system accelerated the formation of Fe(Ⅱ) in solution due to its reducing and chelating ability. Hydrogen production of Fe(0) and ascorbic acid-Fe(0) (AA-Fe(0)) systems at different initial pH (5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) was studied. Result showed that hydrogen produced from AA-Fe(0) system was improved by 2.7-27.5% compared with Fe(0) system. The maximum hydrogen production of 767.5 ± 2.8 mL was achieved with initial pH 9 in the AA-Fe(0) system. This study provided a strategy for enhancing biohydrogen production.
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Fermentation
Fates of Pyruvate
In aerobic organisms, pyruvate is metabolized via the citric acid cycle to produce reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2. These coenzymes are then oxidized in the electron transport chain to produce ATP and, in the process, regenerate the NAD+ and FAD. As seen in some cell types and organisms, fermentation...
Fermentation
Fermentation is a type of metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, where organic molecules such as glucose are broken down to produce energy. During this process, the...
Carbon-dioxide Fixation
Bioremediation

